The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-01-01


this important occasion New Years
Day was forgotten for aw.nie. 1t Is
wonderful how soon New Years Day
comes after Christmas; and almost be-
fore she knew it Enid found she must
prepare for the eventful day when she
would receive for the first time. She
had seen each of the five girls and
seven boys, and all had said they would
be pleased to come.
The duy broke Mt last. though Enid
had been awake for an hour wondering
If it ever would be daylight. No won
der II was so dark II was raining hard.
Breakfast was very late. for Brigett:.
Maria and Thomas Augustus and Ciccly
were in no particular hurry. 1t did not
make any difference: for 1t was holi-
day. and Ends father was going to
spend the day in making calls, and her
mother in receiving calls. As it rained,
Ends mother said Enid must receive
in the dining-room. Her guests could
come in Mt the area gate; besides it
would save the pailor carpets. Enid
did not object TO this. The dining
room was in the basement. and from
the windows she could see the guests
arrive. AT ten o'clock her father went
ont, and soon after all the servants en-
cept Mercy Patience Jones went off, and
the carriage came for her mother.
"Have pleasant time, dear. Treat
your callers like a little lady. There
are some games in the secretary, and
Mercy will bring in the cake and the
Lemonade whenever YOU wish it. Good
bye! Stay in the dining-room all the
time and go to bed ut nine o'clock. l
shall come home soon after ten"
1t was hnlf-past ten when Enid sat
down in her best frock and the big arm
chair to receive. Of course, she could
hardly expect any one at once. They
would not come before eleven, as they
had I'll the afternoon and evening in
which to appear and pay respects.
Eleven o'clock came and no one had ar
rived. She changed her seat, and sat
down by the window where she could
look out. There was nothing to be
seen save the wet stones of the walk
and the muddy streets. At one of the
opposite houses there was little bas-
ket tied with blue ribbon to the bell.
ut will be great fun to see the gentle
men march up the steps and put their
cards in the basket"
Suddenly, to her great surprise, the
clock on the mantel struck twelve. Two
men and boy and one cab had passed
the door Not soul had gone up the
opposite steps to put u card in the bns-
kct. Not soul had rung the bell at
their own door. She hoped none of the
boys or girls would 60 up the steps
to the front door. She would
sit where she could see the steps
and watch for them. She tried to read
''Davy and the Goblin" but the Cocko-
lorum got all mixed up with lobby
wocky, and she laid the book down with
n little sigh of disappointment. Why
don't they come? Why don't they
come? It's lucky the lemonade doesn't
need warming.
| Suddenly came tremendous sur
prise. The clock struck one. 1t was
already afternoon. Her guests would
surely come very soon. Then she re-
membered it was time for lunch. She
arose from her seat by the windw, and
went out to the kitchen. There she
found Mercy Patience reading book
On the table stood the big pitcher OF
lemonade, and the plate of cake, cover.
ed with u napkin.
II think I'll have lunch, Mercy, il
you please"
"Yes, Miss. The lemonade is all
ready"
mo. l mean plain lunch. Nobody
has called yet. They will come this
afternoon.
Mercy soon brought some cold meal
and bread and butter and pitcher o.
milk. and Enid tried to eat it, buI
could not. Her mind was on that silen
bell, and wondering why it did no
ring. Then she began to fear the bel
was out of order, or that her guests
couldn't ring it, and she hastily dranE
some milk and went back to the win
dow to watch. The clock licked ant
licked, and the rain fell, drip, drip, ir
mOnotOnOus murmur, on the wet stone.
outside the window. Enid got out :
game and tried to play solitaire game
but soon gave it up. At three o'cloc!
Mercy brought in the cake and lemon
.ade, and placed it on the table"
''Your company are very late, Miss. '
eyes, Mercy; they are very late.
do hope they will come soon."
II am going up to my room for lit
tie rest"
"All right, Mercy. | will wait here
They must come sOon."
The room seemed to grow dark ant
chilly, and tear ran down Enid
cheek.
"It's very mean and cruel in them
when they know-Tm-rm waiting
How cold it is. I'll light the fire."
The fire roared in dull, angry sor
of way, and when Enid took down th'
blower she sat and gazcd sadly into TIN
glowing Goals. A dreadful sense of re
greet and loneliness began to creep ovel
her. What if they should not come
She could never, never, bear it. Thel
she somehow seemed to see in the coal
certain man who gave feast and in
vited many friends to attend and b,
merry with him. The guests did no
come, and the man telephoned to al
their houses, but the people telephonet
back they had so many things to d'
they were not able to come. So th
man called n district messenger ant
sent out and invited the lame and bin,
and the halt in the by-ways to come t,
the feast.
II don't suppose there are any by
ways in the city. Besides, shouldn'
know what to pay to the messenger boy
couldn't write cards, and, if / did, TIN
blind couldn't read Them"
-Four o'clock. They must come soon
or it would be dark. Sad and wear,
with waiting and disappointment, sh
drealy street. just MS she came to tn
| .Al 4. s.e s.,I